Month: May 2009

Carrie will return to American Idol (FOX) on Tuesday, May 19 to perform live this year’s Idol farewell song, “Home Sweet Home.”

Carrie’s “Home Sweet Home,” a cover of the original hit by Mötley Crüe, has aired on each results show during the Top 12 as the goodbye theme for contestants leaving the show. Carrie, 19 Recordings, Sony Music Nashville, and iTunes are donating a portion of the sales proceeds of the “Home Sweet Home” digital single to The Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org). These donations will be used directly for programs that help companion animals, provide spay/neuter services, and rescue and shelter animal victims of puppy mills and disasters.

Carrie Becomes the First Country Artist in History to Achieve 10 #1 Singles from Their First Two Albums!

“I Told You So” Today Marks Her 10th #1 Single with Album Sales Already Topping 10 Million!

She’s sold more than 10 million albums with her first two records alone, and now Carrie hits another milestone 10 as her current smash, “I Told You So,” becomes her 10th single to top a key sales or airplay chart. The accomplishment makes the four-time GRAMMY winner the first country artist in history ever to achieve 10 #1 singles on the strength of their first two albums.

This week’s #1 country airplay blockbuster also marks the fifth consecutive chart-topper from Carrie’s Carnival Ride album, which includes “Just a Dream” and three hits Carrie co-wrote: “So Small,” “All-American Girl,” and “Last Name.”

The newly crowned ACM Entertainer of the Year and three-time reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist accomplishes the rare feat of taking a former #1 song to the top of the country charts a second time – 21 years after Randy Travis first saw his composition hit the chart summit. She becomes the first country artist to return a song to #1 since Alan Jackson took the Don Williams classic, “It Must Be Love,” back to the top nearly nine years ago.

In addition to her original recording of “I Told You So” on Carnival Ride, a special studio duet of the song is currently available as a digital single, featuring Carrie with Randy Travis.

The only American Idol winner ever to achieve 10 #1 hits, Underwood’s collection of chart-toppers began with the instant success of her post-American Idol single, “Inside Your Heaven,” which debuted atop Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in the summer of 2005. It was the first of five #1s from her 7x-Platinum debut, Some Hearts, with the others including the GRAMMY-winning “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats,” as well as “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” and “Wasted.”

And in a bit of Carrie trivia, 10 continues to be a lucky number for Carrie. Her birthday is March 10, and just two weeks after her American Idol win in 2005, she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry on the 10th of June and later became a member of the Opry with her official induction on May 10, 2008.

Carrie made her second trip to Africa earlier this month visiting orphanages and health centers near Luanda, Angola where she participated in the area’s cause to help fight malaria. Her visit was part of American Idol’s “Idol Gives Back” charitable endeavors. A special video presentation will air on American Idol Tuesday, May 12 to help show viewers how their donations have helped with various relief programs.

While in Angola, Underwood visited an all-girl orphanage in Luanda where the girls performed songs and poetry for her after she delivered bed nets and backpacks with school supplies to the orphanage. Underwood also participated in a community bed net giveaway in Ngangula, and wrapped up her 3-day trip by visiting a health center in Luanda where pregnant women received malaria counseling and treatment.

American Idol and the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF) partnered last year to raise awareness and funds for organizations that provide relief programs to help children and young people in extreme poverty in America and Africa. ExxonMobil sponsored Underwood’s most recent trip to Africa.